Fruit and vegetable squeezer



-' Dec. 27, 1927.

N. ARCHIDIACANO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE SQUEEZER Filed Sept. '7, 1927 2Sheet s-Sheet 1770877 Zor Dec. 27, 192 7.

N. ARCHIDIACANO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE SQUEEZER Filed Sept. 7, 1927 2Sheets-$heet 2 17112 for 4 Wfbrweg Patented Dec. 27, 1927.

"UNITED? STATES PATENT Grace.

NICHOLAS ARCHIDIACANO, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

FRUIT Ann VEGETABLE seon nznn.

tpplication filed September 7, 1927. Serial No. 217,947.

My present invention relates to machines for squeezing tomatoes, orother vegetables and fruits, an important object of the invention'beingto provide a novel device for this purpose which iseconomical to ma'nu:

i by providing-means topositively and mechanically adjust this feedscrew, I obviate any difficulty arising from clogging of the machine byfeeding vegetables or fruits of difl'erent consistencies thereto. 1

A further object of the invention is to provide means to separate theWater content in the vegetables or fruit, from the pulp, the

primary object of the present invention being to separate the pulp fromthe fruit or vegetables, in whichevent the water constituent of the sameis not always desired. 1

Also, preferably, I position 'allthej threads of the feed screwsubstantially equidistant from the interior of the conical screen, thusinsuring an even passage of the articles there through, and an even andconstant grinding or squeezing effect throughout the length of themachine, j 7 Further features oft-he invention, details ofjconstruction,combinations of parts and advantages, will be hereinafter more fullypointed out and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment ofthepresent invention,

Figalis av longitudinal sectional view of the machine; j

Fig. 2 is an end'elevation of the machine; Fig. is a side elevation ofthe machine; Fig. dis a part-ialplan view of the water separating end ofthe pulp receiving tray; 1 Fig. 5 is an end view of the machine beforeapplication of the shaft, feed screw and component-parts; and

Fig. 6 is an end view of the conical screen. As shown in the drawings, asupporting bracket 1 adapted to be secured to a table or bench 2 bymeans of a clamping screw 8, is

portion of which is flaredfa's provided. The head of the braclzet l ispro vided with a recess 4 through which a shaft. 5 extends, this shaftbeing threaded onits outer end, as at 6, to receive a handl e;7,correspondlngly threaded. To the inner side of,

- the head of the bracketil is affixed a plate "8 by Ineansof rivets 9or the like, and interposed betweentheplateSand the head of thebracketis a further plate 10, the lower clearly shown in Fig. 1, thelower portion of the plateS being spaced from the flaredportion of theplate 10, for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully described. Lips orears 1]. are provided at predetermined intervals through out theperiphery of the plate 8. v I i i A conical screen is also provided,having an opening 13 therein and having, at spaced intervalsthroughouttheperipheryi ofjits flange 15, a plurality of lugs or Websadapted to be engaged under the lipsll-to secure the screento the plate8. Within the opening 13 in the screen 12 is adaptedtobe positioned afeeding hopper l6, toperinit vegetables or fruits to be fed to themachine.

The shaft 5 extends inwardly into the screen and its outer end issquared, as at 17, and onto the squared end W ie-positioned a worm ortapered feed screw 18, abutting against a shoulder 19 on theshaft 5; f Alug orboss 20 is formed or positioned on the shaft 5, and around theshaft 5 is. positioned a sleeve2l having a plurality of notches 22 inits outer end, and adapted to bear, on its inner'end, against the face23 of the head of the braclret l,;apertures 24 being provided in theplates 8 and 10 for this purpose. Each of the notches 22 are ofdifferent depth,varying approximately one-eighth of an inch fromadjacent notches. When the sleeveis adjusted on the shaft 5 so that theshortest notch engages the lug 20, the threads of the feed screw will bein close proximity with the sides of the screen 12,.thus permitting onlyfine skins, seeds, and the like to be ultimately discharged through thedischarge opening or nozzle 25. If coarser fruits or vegetables are tobe fed through the machine, the SIQQX'B 21 will be adjusted to bring adeeper notch 22 into engagement with the lug 20, thus permitting thepassage of coarser skins, seeds, and the like through the 111R- chine. Ij f;

Surrounding the discharge nozzle is a flange 26 having its lower portioninturned as shown at 27, and the pulp or juice receiving tray 28 isapplied to the machine, its lip 29 engaging the inturned portionQ'Z ofthe flange same its edge 30 being interposed in the space between thelower portions of the plates 10 and 8,as, clearlyshown. hen

in position, on a table, bench or the like, the

top of the screen 12 is preferablysubstantially level, or parallel withthe said table or bench. Thus, when fruits or vegetables,

such as tomatoes, are fed to the machine for grinding and squeezing, thefirst tendency ot the said articles is to discharge or have s ueezedtherefrom their water contents,

w ieh, due to the position of the screen and the article'belng squeezedw th n the screen, will flow downwardly towardv the apertures 31 inthelower edge of the screen 12, and thence such water will tlowfinto thedrain 3 2 ofthe tray 28, and outwardly through the spout or nozzle '33.This water content,

which of course \villiliave the fruit or vegee table flavor therein, maybe received in a suitable receptacle if desired, and utilized forvarious purposes. However, the separationof the pulp of the fruit orvegetables is the primary object of this invention, and

in the passage of the articles through the machine, the pulp will beforced through the perforations in the screen 12, and deliveredtothe'main portion of the tray 28,1 01 delivery or deposit into suitablereceptacles, the skins, seeds, and other refuse, passing through thedischarge nozzle 25. The squeezing operation may be repeated, of course,on articles already squeezed, to extract therefrom all possible pulp orjuice. Thisseparationof tllBfWtttOl' content from the. articles,however,.is important, and will be appreciated by those skilled in thisart.

The operationof the present machine is exceedingly simple and will bereadily understood, being briefly described asfollows:

Tomatoes or other articles being fed to the machine through the hopper16, the handle 7 is turned, inturn rotating the shaft 5 and feed screw18, and thus feeding the articles through the machine, the liquid orwater first extractedflowing through the apertures 31 into the drainportion 32 of the trav 28 and out through the discharge nozzle a);

As the articles progress through the screen 12, the pulp therefrom willbe ejected through the pcrforationsin the screen 12, while the skins,rinds, seeds or other refuse will continue through themachine and outthrough the discharge nozzle 25 provided therefor. l k

The position ofthe feed screw will, of course,be varied by adjustment ofthe sleeve 21 for the different types or grades of articles to beoperated upon.

Ibelieve that my present machine, as above described, is novel, and Ihave therefore claimed the same herein.

While I have necessarily described my present invention somewhat indetail, it will be; appreciated that I may "vary thc size, shape andarrangen'icnt of parts within resonably wide limits witlmut departingfrom the spiritot the invention My inventionis further described and defined in the form of claims as follows:

1. Ina machine of the kind described, a conical screen having a feedopening in its upper surface, a shaft, a feedscrew rotatable within saidscreen and mounted on said shaft, a sleeve surrounding saidshaft andhaving a plurality of notches in one endjthereof, a, lug on said shaftadapted to engage one of said notches to predetermine, the position ofthe feed screw withrelation to saidjscreen 2. Ina machine of the lrinddescribema conical screen having a feed opening in its upper surface,ashaft, a feed screw rotatablo within said screen andinounted on saidshaft, a sleeve su rroundingisaid shaft apd having a plurality ofnotches of varying depth in one end thereof, a lug on said shaft adaptedto engage one of said notches to pres determine the position of thefeedvscrew adapted to engage oneof saidjnotches to;

predetermine the position of the feed screw with relation to saidscrcen,and means to separate the liquid content from thelartieles fed to saidmachine.

l. Ina machine ofthe kind described, a conical screen having a feedpening in its upper surface, a shaft, a feed screwrotatable within saidscreen and inounted on said shaft, a sleeve surrounding said shaft andhaving a plurality ofnotehes of varying depth in one end thereof, a lugon, said shaft adapted to engage one UfEEIId notches to, predeterininethe]: position of the feed screw with relation to said screen, traypositioned below said screen, and, means on said screen and saidtray toseparate theliq uid content from the articles fed to the Ina chine, i j

5. In a machine of the kind described, a, conical screen having a vfeedopeningin its upper surface, a shaft, ajfeed screw rotatable within saidscreen ana oma u, on said shaft, a sleeve surrounding said shaft andhaving a pluralityofjnotches of, varying depth in one end thereof, a lugon saidsl aft adapted to engage one ofjsajid notches to predeterminetheposition of the feed screw with relation to said screen, a traypositioned below said screen, means on said screen and said tray toseparate thegliquid said plate to attach the screen thereto, a feedscrew mounted on said shaft and within said screen, a lug on said shaft,and a sleeve surrounding said shaft and having notches in one endthereof, said lug and said notches cooperating to adjust said feed screwin fixed predetermined relation with said screen.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

NICHOLAS ARcHInIAcANo.

